tuesday ride - othg

After a kicking from my neighbour last Wednesday, a kicking on Saturday from the Alphas, a slapping on Sunday from my mtb buddies, I was expecting another from the othg! But no, it was a fabulously steady ride. Eric and Alan got on the front for a lot of it and kept the pace down and we all chatted as we rode through the beautiful Kent countryside to Four Elms. Sometimes I forget that we can take it easy, though I wouldn't want to do it too often as my average heart rate was only 115bpm :)

It was nice to ride with Bob Maylin once again, he was one of the original 'bad boys' of the Tuesday rides. Always kicking off on the hills, usually after eating a banana.

Coming back was a similar affair. All in all a lovely recovery ride

sunday ride

Julie came for a ride today and brought cakes! Jane is away and now I feel sick. She also brought along her fabulous new bike. A Trek nine series with full xtr, I felt sick then too!



We,that is me Paul and JD, did a classic sundayriders ride: Up over Leith for some singletrack and Jane's impossible climb, over to Holmbury via the tough climbs of Jolwynds and Telegraph. We did some singletrack here and watched a bit of the Surrey off road half marathon and cheered them on a bit too. Then we rolled back to catch the tdf.

The roads and trails were strangely devoid of people.

Wednesday surprise ride

I haven't felt much like riding this week, but this morning Mathew suggested a quick easy spin around the Wisborough Green circuit. It hurt solidly for three hours, we averaged 18mph and my heart rate averaged 154 bpm which for me is 88% uff! I tried out some new cranks, which I think were a little bit closer than I normally use. The main aches after the ride were not in my legs but my buttocks...interesting! I need bigger buttocks :)

Dodging the showers

No mtb today, we nipped out and tried to avoid the showers. It chucked it down whilst we were in Starbucks!

Strangers in the night

Whirring and panting in the middle of the night :) I'm sure there'll be butt kicking on the next othg ride :)

test from bt

test for email blog from bt

Alan

Saturday 2nd July

Today we went to see the llamas, we followed the GPS route through leafy Surrey lanes, grungy Horley suburbs, up past Tulleys Farm on long forgotten roads from my days on Thursday club runs. Then it was new territory for me, rolling roads with fabulous big ring blasts to Wych Cross. I didn't actually see the llamas as it was a choice between the entrance fee and the discovery of wheat free, gluten free, vegan chocolate chip and lemon zest cookies. I ate the cookies whilst looking at the photos of the llamas on the wall:)
The home trip took us past the resevoirs of Ardingly where the pleasure of steep swooping descents were matched by the pain of leg burning sharp climbs, through Balcombe (a favourite old haunt) and back to familiarity as we hit the time trial blast home from Rusper. A fine day out in balmy weather.

Jane

Friday July 1st

My day off and I wake at 7am, bright as a button! This must be taken advantage of so I jump into my cycling gear and haul my surprised bike out for a trip to Cripplegate. It feels like ages since I've been off-road and summer has sprung, 20mph hill was dripping in wild sweetpeas and The Roughs were resplendantly green with field upon field of ...!!.... hemp plants !! rad lane and 'Twix were still a bit damp but nothing to slow me down too much and after the scary-fast descent into Cranleigh I'd been out for an hour. Hmm, if I get a clear run down the DownsLink I could be on for a good time - I decide to try it and adopt my best time-trial position, get in my biggest gear and graunch away. There were a few early morning dog walkers, runners and horse riders around but notwithstanding I arrived at the Lake in a PB of 1.48:)


It's too early for the cafe to be open so I eat an energy bar in the sunshine and head back for a steady ride home. As I pass the caravan site at Slinfold, campers are cooking their breakfasts and the aroma of baked beans makes me hungry. I make a quick scan of the site just in case Raymond, LCO and Growler are miraculously there waiting for me in our tent:) They're not so I carry on, up HorseBlock which was surprisingly painless and arrive home with a trip time of 3.51 and a good 52 miles in my legs.

Jane